Manual vs. Automatic Transmission Pros and Cons: Which Is Better?

Manual-transmission cars have their ardent defenders, people who just insist on the superiority of a stick shift, a clutch and three pedals. But sometimes the facts don't support the reasons cited for the desirability of this transmission type. Here we discuss five common myths about manual-transmission vehicles and list the pros and cons of a manual versus an automatic transmission.

Myth 1. Manual transmissions always get better fuel economy than cars with automatic gearboxes.

In the past, it was pretty much a given that vehicles with manual transmissions would be more fuel-efficient than their automatic counterparts. But as modern automatics gained additional gears and relied less on a torque converter, they have overtaken manuals in terms of fuel economy.

Let's take the Jeep Wrangler as an example. Four-door Unlimited versions of the Wrangler are available with either a manual or an automatic paired with a 3.6-liter V6 engine. When equipped with the six-speed manual, the V6 Wrangler gets an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon in mixed driving. Opting for the eight-speed auto instead nets a 20 mpg rating — a small but not insignificant improvement.

Myth 2. Manual cars cost less than the same model with an automatic.

In general, the manual version of a car will indeed cost less, but not always. Increasingly, as we see today with the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3, for example, the manual transmission is only offered on higher trim levels, which means you'd need to spend thousands more over the base model. In other cases, it's simply a wash. If you want to drive a manual-equipped Porsche 718 Boxster or Cayman, it won't save you any money up front since the manual and automatic versions are priced the same.

Myth 3. The coolest sports cars only come with a manual gearbox.

That depends on your definition of a "cool sports car." Both the highly rated Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe and the Chevrolet Corvette C8 are sold without a manual gearbox option. And Ferrari and Lamborghini no longer offer any vehicles with a clutch pedal or stick-shifted gearbox. Sports cars don't get much cooler than those.

Many modern sports cars, like the Corvette and most Porsche 911 variants, use a dual-clutch automatic transmission, which features computer-controlled clutching and offers the best of both worlds: the control of a manual with the ease of a conventional automatic, plus faster shifts than either.

The same lack of manuals is seen on high-performance electric vehicles. Most electric car transmissions are typically one-speed, which would negate the need for a manual transmission. That said, automakers such as Hyundai, with its Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, have programmed their seamless electric cars to simulate the jerky feeling of shifts using a shock of torque. There are also some patents for real or simulated stick shifts that automakers could employ on EVs in the future, but that's not a given.

Myth 4. If your dream car comes standard with a manual transmission, you can always get an automatic as an option.

This just isn't true. A small group of cars these days, mostly sporty models, only come with a manual gearbox. The list has been getting shorter in recent years and now includes the 2025 Honda Civic Type R and the Porsche 911 Carrera T. Notably, the Honda Civic Si — a sporty but much less exclusive version of the Civic than the Type R — also continues to be manual-only.

Myth 5. Teenagers really, really want to learn to drive a manual car.

There does not appear to be any evidence to support this statement. In fact, the opposite is more likely true. Because there are so few manual-transmission vehicles out there, many drivers who have just earned their licenses don't get exposed to them and so they have little interest in learning how to drive them. Whenever possible, it is good for new drivers to get acquainted with a stick-shift vehicle, if only so that they can drive such a car in an emergency situation.

Is the manual transmission an anti-theft deterrent?

There's one argument in favor of stick-shift cars that doesn't have a ready true-or-false answer. The theory is that because fewer people know how to drive stick shifts these days, cars equipped with them are less likely to be stolen. While there have been a few examples of would-be thieves being stymied by manual transmissions over the years, there haven't been any formal studies conducted.

Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which tracks car theft trends, says he's not aware of any data to support or refute that idea.

"Some thieves might be thwarted in their attempt to steal a car with a manual transmission since many thieves possess varying levels of intellect," Scafidi says. "That very personal element is also a factor in the degree of expertise necessary to overcome some of the more sophisticated security systems.

"Most car thieves are just not that swift and therefore resort to stealing older, easier targets," Scafidi says. "But there are those in the car-thief ranks who are quite capable of making off with anything that they intend to steal."

Manual car pros

• The vehicle is more engaging for the driver.
• The driver has full control over gears and when to shift.
• It's often less expensive than an equivalent automatic-equipped vehicle.
• The transmission usually costs less to repair due to its simpler design.
• Resale value on sportier models is typically better.

Manual car cons

• Shifting a manual can get tiresome in heavy traffic.
• The learning curve is steep.
• It requires precise control on hills to avoid stalling or rolling back.
• Not all drivers can operate one.
• A limited number of vehicles offer a manual.

Automatic car pros

• It's easier to drive in stop-and-go traffic.
• The majority of vehicles offer an automatic.
• The transmission shifts more quickly and smoothly.
• It usually offers better gas mileage.
• An automatic transmission with manual control offers drivers the best of both worlds.

Automatic car cons

• It can be more expensive to buy than a manual-equipped car.
• The transmission has more moving parts, leading to higher repair costs.
• It's not as fun to drive — though this is subjective.
• A transmission with lots of gears might shift too often in the name of fuel economy.

FAQs

Is an automatic or a manual better?
If the expression "vote with your wallet" is any indication, then the automatic wins because the vast majority of new vehicles sold in the U.S. have an automatic transmission. And according to CarMax's sales data, there has been a steady decline in manual-transmission buyers every year since 1995. It would appear that people have expressed their preference for automatic cars. But this is ultimately a subjective decision. We say: Buy what makes you happy. If you need a detailed list of pros and cons, take a look at this article.

Is a manual faster than an automatic?
In most cases, an automatic car will be quicker than the equivalent manual-transmission car simply because the latter needs more time to shift gears, and even conventional automatics have gotten progressively quicker in recent years. If the automatic is technically a dual-clutch automatic transmission, it should be able to shift gears a lot more quickly than a human driver.

What is the difference between an automatic car and a manual?
With manual-transmission vehicles, the driver operates the clutch and decides when to change gears using the stick shift. In an automatic car, the gear-shifting duties are handled by the computer-controlled transmission.